Coca-Cola says it is the largest private-sector employer in Africa. Its system of distribution, which moves the sugary drink from bottling plants deep into slums and the bush a few crates at a time, may employ around 1m Africans.
Read the rest of The Economist story on Coke's impact .
The comments in the article are very interesting. From the following:
ReplyDelete"Also, the Coke has become a symbol of the West: It exploits local environments and peoples for its own benefits, and then cites a little statistics to "prove" that it is doing good.
When the colored man is truly free, their will be no more exploiting Coke companies in his land."
to:
"During the Mozambique floods, thousands of people survived from the water filtration system provided by the local Coke bottler."
One can see the how divisive such a company, so strongly associated with America, is. I think most economists would win any argument claiming that increased coke sales is a good thing. And yet, a sizable percentage of the world resists it just because of strong feelings about America.
Food for thought.
Pawnking,
ReplyDeleteWe are seeing some results of the anti-free enterprise mentality in Zimbabwe.